[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 78 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1073-E1074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE HISPANIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague, 
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, in introducing the Hispanic Health 
Improvement Act of 2003.
  Every 24 hours in this country, over 2,700 people are diagnosed with 
diabetes, just one of the multitude of diseases and illnesses plaguing 
our Nation. And of these 2,700 daily

[[Page E1074]]

new cases of diabetes, minority groups like Latinos are 
disproportionately affected.
   But diabetes is not the only illness that burdens Hispanic 
communities more than non-Hispanic populations. Diseases like asthma, 
HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, obesity and cancer consistently 
plague Latino communities at rates that are simply unacceptable.
  As many of you will recall, in 1999, Congress petitioned the 
Institute of Medicine to conduct a report to assess the extent of 
racial and ethnic disparities in health care and the resulting disease 
outcomes. We have been given our answers.
  Some of the top research institutions in the country continually 
report that the health of Hispanics in the U.S. is deteriorating and 
must be addressed.
  For example, 37 percent of non-elderly Latinos are uninsured--a rate 
twice that of non-Hispanic whites, and most come from working families. 
The incidence of AIDS among Hispanics is around 200 per 100,000, while 
it is only 60 per 100,000 among non-Latino whites. list goes on and on.
  Latinos are now 16 percent of the total population, so it is 
imperative that we address the increasing trends in poor Latino health. 
The need to act on behalf of our Latino communities is great, and today 
we are being presented with the opportunity to help.
  The Hispanic Health Improvement Act is our chance to respond to the 
data and to commit to the health of our Latino communities across the 
U.S. This bill is a comprehensive measure focusing exclusively on 
improving the health among Latino populations. This bill expands the 
important State Children's Health Insurance Program, S-CHIP, to cover 
low-income pregnant women and parents, and it gives States the option 
to cover any individual below 100 percent of poverty under their 
Medicaid program. It provides for an enhanced 90 percent Federal 
matching rate to States through Medicaid and S-CHIP to provide language 
services--like oral interpretation, or translation of written 
materials--for individuals with limited English proficiency.

  These services are extremely critical when one third of Latinos and 
over 40 percent of Spanish-speaking Latinos report having problems 
communicating with their health care provider.
  The bill also addresses health disparities by establishing programs 
and grants to respond to diabetes, cancer, asthma, HIV infection, AIDS, 
obesity, oral health, mental health, and other illnesses. It also 
recognizes the need to strengthen the diversity in our health care work 
force by supporting Hispanic-serving health professional schools and 
training health providers in cultural competency.
  As you can see, this legislation is the critical pivot point whereby 
we can reverse the sliding health of our Latino population.
  In conclusion, I want to applaud the leadership of my good friend 
Congressman Ciro Rodriguez in championing this bill for several years.
  I am pleased to be part of this effort and I urge my colleagues to 
seize this opportunity to protect the future health of Latinos--and all 
Americans--by cosponsoring this bill.

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